Sliced bread transfer



Nov. 1,1932.

D. M ALLISTER SLICED BREAD TRANSFER Filed Feb. 25, 1932 C i ATTOR N EY Patented Nov. 1, 1,932

stares FATE DAVID BECALLISTER, F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN MACHINE 85 FEGUNDRY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY SLICED BREAD TRANSFER Application filed February 25, 1932. Serial, 110. 595,182.

This invention relates to a transfer device for guiding sliced articles such as loaves of bread from a bread slicing machine to a wrapping machine, its main object being to automatically bridge, for the passage of each loaf, the gap between the end of the delivery table oi? the slicing machine and the receiving runway of the wrapping machine. The said gap being required for the passage of the delivery pushers oi the slicing machine wh ch are usually attached to endless chains, a narrow rectangular or a round loaf would drop "into the gap between the delivery table and the receiving runway of the wrapping machine and would thus be damaged it no supporting bridge were provided. With this and other objects not specifically mentioned 1' n view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

The transfer bridge in the present invention is hinged to the end of the receiving runway of the bread-wrapping machine and held in al gnment with the same by a spring in such a manner that each pusher, ai'ter delivering the loaf over the transfer bridge onto the wrapping machine runway, will depress the bridge by its own motion, the spring, after the passing of the pusher, automatically replacing the bridge into transfer position for the next on-coming loaf.

1n the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts, Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the end of the delivery table of slicing machine placed in proper working relation to the receiving runway of a, bread-wrapping machine, the latter being provided with the improved transfer bridge; and

Fig. 2 is a top view of the mechanism shown in Fig.1, seen from line 22 of the same.

In carrying the invention into effect there i is. provided a delivery table, endle: 1 chain conveyors having pushers for forwarding the articles along said table, a delivery runway adjacent the delivery end of said table to which the articles are forwarded, said runway being spaced irom the table to provide a gap for the passage of thepushers, and means movable into and out of the path of the pushers for bridging said gap. In the best forms of construction contemplated said means includes a transfer bridge, a cross rod on which said bridge is fixed and a ten sion spring connected to the cross rod to yieldingly hold the bridge in article guiding position. These various means and parts may be widely varied in construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments =I."

L, which is shown of cylindrical shape, is delivered from the slicing machine on a delivery table by pushers 11 which propel the loaf across a gap-closing plate or bridge 12 onto an inclined runway 13 of the wrapping machine. The pushers 11 are attached across two parallel endless chains 14 running over sprockets 15 mounted on a cross shaft 16 carried by side frames 17 of the slicing machine. The gap closing plate 12 is fasten-ed to a cross rod 18 carried by bearings 19 attached to a support 20 of the wrapping machine.

The Pushers 11, at the end of their forward travel, turn around the sprockets 15, thereby gradually forcing the gap bridge 12 to its downmost position 12 (dotted lines) when the pusher 11 is in its dotted position 11'. The bridge 12, 'in so moving, turns the cross rod 18 so that its flattened downwardly bent end 21 moves to the dotted position 21', thereby stretching a tension spring 22 which normally holds the bridge 12 in alignment with runway 13 against a stop 23 engaging the bent end 21. The spring 22 is fastened to the bent end 21 and has its other end anchored to a post 24 carried by the frame 17. The pusher 11, in leaving the path of the bridge 12, sets the same free, permitting the spring 22 to pull it back to its former position against the stop 23.

The loaf L is delivered crosswise onto W whic runway 13 and, when arrived in position L clamps 25, which are arranged in pairs on endless chains, propel the loaf L lengthwise into the folding mechanism of the wrapping machine. What is claimed-is:

1. The combination with a table, of conveyor chains extending along said" table, pushers extending across said table and fixed on by said chains, a delivery runway extending transversely of said table and spaced therefrom, a transfer bridge disposed between the delivery end of said table and said runway to guide articles forwarded by said pushers onto said runway, and means yieldingly supporting said bridge to permit the passage of said pushers beyond the delivery end of said table when they engage said bridge. 1

2. The combination with a table, of conveyor chains extending along said table, pushers extending across said table and fixed on by said chains, a delivery runway extend- .out of the path of said pushers for bridging said gap, said means includinga movably mounte plate, and'mechanism yieldingly "urging said plate into gap bridging position,

and said pushers coacting with said plate to push the latter out of the path of thepushers against? the action of said mechanism.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. DAVID McALLISTER.

ing transversely of said table and spaced therefrom, 'a transfer bridge disposed between the delivery end of said table and said runway to guide articles forwarded by said pushers onto said runway, and means yieldingly supporting said bridge to permit the.

passage 0 said pushers beyond the delivery end of said table when they. engage said brid e, said means including a cross rod on said brid e is fiXed, said rod having one of its ends fient downwardly, a'tension spring connected to the downwardly bent end of said rod, and a stop enga ing said downwardly bent end to hold said ridge in article guiding position against the tension of said spring. a, 7

3. In a loaf transfer, the combination with a table, of an endless chain conveyor having pushers for forwarding the loaves sidewise along said table, a runway adjacent one end of said conveyor to which the loaves are forwarded, said runway being spaced from the end of the; table to provide a gap for passage of the pushers, and means movable into and out of the path of said pushers for bridging said ap.

4. n a loaf transfer, the combination with a table, of an endless chain conveyor having pushers for forwarding the loaves sidewise along said table, a runway adjacent one end of said conveyor to which the loaves are forwarded, Sald runway being spacedfrom the end of the table to provide a gap for passage of the pushers, and means movable into and out of the path of said pushers for bridging said gap, said means including a movably mounted plate, and mechanism yieldingly urging said plate into gap bridging position. 

